Friends at the 50th reunion reinforced studies I have read.  Those who were aging well were not necessarily the most physically fit and healthy.  Instead they were the ones with healthy attitudes.  Cancer, strokes, pain, paralysis and bankruptcy did not hold these healthy attitudes back.  Rather they were the ones we sought out first.  They exuded age esteem.

• We were drawn by their contagious laughter.
• They were genuinely interested in listening to the stories of others.
• They embraced the opportunity to play, to release their inner child.
• Their health was a minor event in their life story which was filled with family, friends,  accomplishments and contributions.
• They dwell on the positives of life.

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Health Factors, Secrets to AgeEsteem 50th reunion, age-esteem, aging well, Bonnie Fatio, contagious laughter, healthy attitudes, inner child, positives

Susan Barber 65

Esteem means to honor and so I’ve always esteemed age.  My grandfather was mayor in Birmingham and he was my great model.  Three of my dearest friends, my dad, a friend in India and another in New York all lived into their 90s.  And I held the hands of two of them as they passed on, which I understand is a great gift because it means that they chose you to be the passage to heaven.

I’ve never been very involved in age because I’ve always felt I was very old, even when I was five.  I’ve never understood people who say what number of years people are because you can find 35 year old people who are seemingly dead to living and some friends 89 I know are very active.  AgeEsteem seems to bring great respect.  This seems to be something that is not very strong in America.  I was admiring Madonna the other day because she’s doing a book now because she’s 50.  She’s saying that Americans don’t think there’s life thereafter.

Susan’s tips:  The people I know who are in their 90s and very alive and very active love this life.  They love young people; they love to learn; and they all have religion as a very integral part of their being, Christianity, but it could be any religion.  So those are the inspirations for me every day.  What I can learn in life and who I can learn from.  Who I enjoy as people.  I think we have to live with society.  Of course we all wish for good health because that is a pathway to aging well.

Susan Barber who resides in New York specializes in marketing European hotels.

Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Secrets to AgeEsteem active, AgeEsteem, aging well, esteem, Madonna, religion, respect, Susan Barber, young people